Ombudsman candidate Darja Lavtižar-Bebler, designated by Slovene President Milan Kučan, was rejected by Parliament by 57 votes against 23 on Tuesday. At least two thirds of the 81 present MPs would have to vote in the candidate's favour for her to become the new ombudsman.

MPs of the Social Democrats of Slovenia, New Slovenia and the Party of Slovene Youth voted against Lavtižar-Bebler as predicted.

President Kučan expressed his regrets on Parliament's rejection of the candidate who in his judgement was the most qualified and was thought to have the strongest support in Parliament. The President will repeat the selection of ombudsman candidates in its entirety, was reported from the President's Office.

Lavtižar-Bebler also expressed her regrets and hoped that the next designate would have better chances in the Parliament. Lavtižar-Bebler said she would consider another candidacy if she was asked to do so. In her opinion, the reasons for the rejection of her candidacy lie not in inter-party feuds, but in the fact that it did not persuade the necessary majority of the MPs.